Serena Williams has voiced her support of good friend Meghan Markle.
In a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired on CBS Sunday night, the Duchess of Sussex confessed she struggled with thoughts of suicide after experiencing an onslaught of criticism from tabloid media.
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“I just didn’t see a solution,” Meghan Markle told Oprah. “Look, I was really ashamed to have to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry especially, but I knew that if I didn’t say that I would do it…
“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. … I thought it would have solved everything for everyone.”
Serena, who attended Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry, took to twitter to support her friend saying she has first-hand experience enduring “sexism and racism” in tabloid media coverage.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 8, 2021
“I know first hand the sexism and racism institutions and media use to vilify women and people of color to minimize us, to break us down and demonize us,” Serena posted on Twitter. “We must recognize our obligation to decry malicious, unfounded gossip and tabloid journalism. The mental health consequences of systemic oppression and victimization are devastating, isolating and all too often lethal.
“I want Meghan’s daughter, my daughter and your daughter to live in a society that is driven by respect.”